Business as usual as King gets green light to stay after estate sale

The Barbury Castle estate, on which trainer Alan King is based, will have a new owner come February but not a new tenant as the prospective owners have revealed their wish for things to remain "business as usual".

The 1,799-acre estate, put on the market last month with a guide price of £20 million by Penny and Nigel Bunter, also hosts an international three-day event – planning for which has been on hold – and point-to-points and, like King, they too now have their future assured.

A statement on behalf of the buyers, released to marlboroughnewsonline.co.uk, read: "The sale does not complete until February so it is premature to say anything about future events – legally, the new owners don't own the estate yet.

"That said, their wish is that it should be business as usual on all fronts, including events and Alan King's business. They would also like to remain private."

King, who moved into the premises in 2000, stayed in the yard when the Bunters, who had horses with him, bought the estate in 2003.

King has sent out more than 1,000 winners from the yard, including the likes of Voy Por Ustedes, My Way De Solzen, Katchit and Uxizandre.